Interindividual differences in the clinical effectiveness of liraglutide in Type 2 diabetes: a real-world retrospective study conducted in Spain.

Aims: To study the response of clinical variables (HbA _1c , body weight, lipid profile and blood pressure) over 24 months of liraglutide treatment in a real-world clinical setting, and to describe the evolution of HbA _1c and body weight reduction in response to liraglutide treatment by employing generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs).
Methods: We included people aged ≥ 18 years with Type 2 diabetes mellitus that initiated liraglutide treatment between November 2011 and May 2015. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved retrospectively over 24 months from electronic medical records with a median duration of observation of 7.0 (IQR 3.0-12.0) months.
Results: Individuals that initiated liraglutide therapy were obese (BMI 39.1 kg/m ² ), with inadequate HbA _1c (68 mmol/mol [8.4%]), blood pressure and lipid levels. Upon liraglutide treatment, HbA _1c , body weight, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and lipid levels decreased gradually. GAMMs demonstrated that longer treatment with liraglutide was a predictor of improved HbA _1c response, whereas higher baseline HbA _1c , longer Type 2 diabetes duration and treatment with insulin were predictors of worse HbA _1c response. Higher baseline weight, longer treatment with liraglutide and the interaction between metformin and time were predictors of improved weight response.
Conclusions: In this real-world study, we showed the effectiveness of liraglutide in improving body weight, HbA _1c , mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and lipid levels. GAMMs indicated that baseline HbA _1c and weight, time of treatment with liraglutide, diabetes duration and the use of metformin or insulin are predictors of clinical response to liraglutide.
(© 2018 Diabetes UK.)